scott



(No Model.)

0. F. SCOTT & H. P. DAVIS.

NON ARGING SWITCH.

N0. 532,594. Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

FIG Z.

Emma

A TTURN/i V5.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

CHARLES F. SCOTT AND HARRY P. DAVIS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

NON-ARCING SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,594, dated January 15, 1895. I I

Application filed March 29, 1894. Serial No. 505,577- (No model.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.- having a vent or outlet 12, through which 50 Be it known that We, CHARLES E. SCOTT any are which forms between the suppleand HARRY P. DAVIS, citizens of the United mental contacts on separation thereof may States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of be blown out by the outrush of the heated Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have inair produced by the arc itself.

vented a new and useful Improvement in Since the contacts 7 and 8 are not designed Non-ArcingSwitches,(CaseNo.583,) ofwhich to remain in the main circuit except for a the following is a specification. moment, they need not be of very great di- The ob ect of our invention is the prod ucmensions, nor of expensive workmanship. 10 tion of a form of switch or circuit interrupt- The operation of our switch is as follows:

ing device which may be used with safety in When the main switch arm is thrown up- 60 the rupture of high tension circuits, and parward, the movement of the lover 1 causes ticularly with alternating currents, which separation of the contacts 2 and 3. This tend to create dangerous and persistent arcs causes a momentary shunt through the conat the point of interruption. tacts 7 and 8, and by diverting the current Our invention is illustrated in the accomprevents it from forming an arc across the 65 panying drawings, whereincontacts which have been so separated. Im-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of mediately after the separation of these conour invention, showing the shunt device in tact-s on the main lever, the cross bar is section, and Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. struck, and the carbon or other supplemen- At 1 is shown the lever of a single pole tal contact 7 is raised out of contact with the 70 switch, of the type wherein two contacts, 2 part 8. The whole force of the current is and 3, are spanned by means of a conductthen expended in the formation of an arc ing lever, operated by a handle 4, or by any across these two supplemental contacts, but

desired means. this are is immediately ruptured by the ex- At 5 is shown a generator which feeds the plosive action of the violently heated air 75 translating devices 6 by means of a circuit caused by the arc itself, and finally a comwhich is closed by means of the spanning leplete rupture of the circuit is accomplished ver 1. without the formation of a permanent arc.

In shunt with the main contacts 2 and 3, Our invention involves merely the addi is a pair of supplemental contacts 7 and 8, tion of a small auxiliary device to an ordi- 80 made, for instance, of carbon, and capable nary switch, and this auxiliary device is comof separation by any desired means, as for posed of inexpensive parts which are easily instance by means of a cam movement, or replaced.

other device operated by the movement of To do not desire to be understood as limthe main operating bar 1. In the form illusiting ourselves to the exact details of con- 85 trated a cross bar 9 is supported in a posistruction shown, since the same may bevation to span the path of movement of the ried to a considerable extent within the range main operating bar, as shown, and to be thereof mechanical skill without departing from fore struck by the bar when it is thrown upthe spirit and scope of the invention.

ward. In order to insure a good contact be- What we do claim is go tween the members of the supplemental or 1. A main switch, and a pair of separable shunt switch, one of the contacts is supported contacts in shunt therewith, in combination and held to contact with the other by means with a restricted chamber wherein one or of a spring, as 10. more of said contacts is adapted to move, and

The supplemental contacts are inclosed a vent communicating with the interior of 5 within a case 11, which may be fastened to said chamber, substantially as described. the base of the switch proper as shown, and 2. A main switch,a pair of contacts in shunt wherein is provided a restricted chamber therewith, and a connection between one of said contacts and the main switch, whereby scribed our names this 26th day of March, A. the latter may be made to move the former; D. 1894.

in combination With a restricted chamber CHAS. F. SCOTT. within which said movable shunt cont act may HARRY P. DAVIS. move, and a vent hole through the side of \Vitnesses: said chamber, substantially as described. JAMES W. SMITH,

In testimony whereof We have hereunto sub HAROLD S. MACKAYE. 

